Page 93 - Sylvia Malt - Side by Side

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The only son of Charles and Ivy Coe of Mount Culver
Aveue Foots Cray, 21-year-old John Coe was a former
pupil of Tiffin Grammar School, (founded in Kingston-
on-Thames, Surrey in 1638 by Thomas Tiffin). At one
time he was also a member of Harrow Rugby Club.

On leaving school, John entered the service of
Hambro's Bank, but finding banking life too dull, he
decided on a much more adventurous career.

Even though he must have been acutely aware that
war could break out at any time, John's desire to be of
service to his country led him to the decision of joining
the Royal Navy and in June 1939 he was assigned to
the Fleet Air Arm Service with the rank of midshipman.
He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant in August 1940
and saw service on a cruiser before going on Coastal
Command with the RAF, finally joining the aircraft
carrier HMS Formidable with 826 Squadron (Canada).

Diary:
March 1940: 826 Squadron was formed as a torpedo spotter reconnaissance
Albacore Squadron at Ford, Sussex;
May 1940: 826 Squadron provided cover for the Dunkirk evacuation from
Detling;
31st May 1940: Bombed targets at Westende, and e-boats off Zeebrugge.

Following these very intense periods of action, 826 Squadron was assigned to RAF Coastal
Command. Operating from Bircham Newton (about two miles south east of Dorking in
Norfolk) the Squadron carried out operations in Holland, Belgium and France during which
at least five enemy aircraft were destroyed or damaged.

November 1940: 826 Squadron embarked on HMS Formidable for convoy duties via
Capetown, South Africa to Egypt.
February 1941: Attacked Mogadishu, Somalia and Massawa,( Eritrea) before joining
the Mediterranean Fleet.

Tragically, during an air attack on 19th March 1941, Sub. Lieutenant John Coe was reported
missing, presumed killed. About a month later, the Royal Navy informed his parents back in
England of their son's loss.

$&&' As well as being remembered on the St. James' Church memorial, John
Jervis Coe's name has also been added to the hundreds of others on the poignant Lee-on-
Solent Memorial in Hampshire.

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